Mum-of-three arrested in Dubai after drinking glass of wine

UK-based dentist Ellie Holman has already spent $50,000 in legal fees after her detention in Dubai.

A mother-of-three was thrown in a Dubai jail cell after drinking one glass of wine on an international flight to the Middle Eastern city.

A mother-of-three was thrown in a Dubai jail cell after drinking one glass of wine on an international flight to the Middle Eastern city.

Ellie Holman, 44, who lives in Kent, England, was arrested after landing at Dubai International Airport last month and underwent questioning by an immigration officer, reports the Mirror.

The dentist, a Swedish national, says she and her daughter Bibi, 4, were hauled into a “baking hot and foul smelling” airport detention centre. Bibi was forced to relieve herself on the cell floor.

Dr Holman’s ordeal started when an official told her that her visa had expired and instructed her to return to London straight away.

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Mum-of-three Ellie Holman.

But the prospect of taking the eight-hour flight with her exhausted young daughter led her to a dispute with the official.

When he questioned her whether she had been drinking, Dr Holman replied that she had a glass of wine on the Emirates Airline flight.

The officer told her possession of alcohol was forbidden in the United Arab Emirates – even if drunk. When Dr Holman began filming the exchange armed police arrived and the pair’s passports were taken.

After being escorted to the detention centre, she was told to provide a blood sample for alcohol testing. She was told the results showed 0.04percent of alcohol in her blood – a reading well below the UK drink-drive limit.

She also claimed a guard attempted to tear out her hair extensions.

Dr Holman says she was forced to sleep on the floor of a canteen and were offered food that she said smelled like “rotting garbage”.

The pair ate nothing for the three days they were detained there.

They were also not permitted to go to toilet.

“My daughter is a happy, smiley girl, but she was terrified,” she told the Daily Star.

Her partner Gary flew to Dubai and was allowed to take Bibi back to the UK.

But Dr Holman is staying with friends in the UAE and faces up to a year before her case is resolved.

She says the couple have already spent £30,000 ($50,000) in legal fees.